US: United Supermarkets debuts location-based pickup service
United Supermarkets LLC has teamed with Radius Networks, a location-based technology company in the grocery, restaurant and retail channels, to roll out FlyBuy, a solution using proprietary machine-learning technology to accurately calculate a customer’s arrival time to pick up an e-commerce grocery order, at the regional grocer's stores. When the order is placed and a pickup time established, the store immediately receives an accurate ETA, gains visibility into the shopper’s journey, and gets timely alerts giving associates time to fulfill the order and meet the customer as soon as they drive up.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Instacart and Big Lots partner to launch same-day delivery
Instacart, the North American leader in online grocery, and Big Lots announced the two companies have partnered to launch same-day delivery nationwide from nearly 1,400 Big Lots stores across all 47 states where the retailer operates. The same-day delivery will include fresh groceries too.
Source: prnewswire.com
Brazil’s Mercado Extra to open 50 new stores in 2020
Brazilian retail group GPA is planning to open 50 new stores under the Mercado Extra format by the end of 2020. The new supermarket format, launched two years ago, already boasts 100 stores across six states. It was rolled out as part of a strategy to convert all Extra supermarkets to Mercado Extra.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
Czech online supermarket Rohlík will launch in Germany
Rohlík, an online supermarket from the Czech Republic, has announced plans to launch in Germany. The expansion was originally planned for 2025. But due to the current high demand for online grocery shopping, the start is brought forward. Rohlík is expected to launch in Munich by the end of this year. The upcoming launch of Rohlík in Germany means more competition from that other online-only supermarket, Picnic.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
French Casino extends Deliveroo partnership
Casino is set to extend the reach of its partnership to further brands, which will see it added to a further 1,500 by 2021. The two companies have been working together in relation to several of Casino’s banners, Franprix since 2019 and Monop’ since April 2020. So far the service is available in key urban areas in the country, including stores in Ile-de-France, Lyon, Nice, Cannes, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille and Strasbourg.
Source: igd.com
Lidl announces plans for mores stores in Surrey
Budget supermarket giant Lidl is planning to open up to 28 new stores across Surrey, a county near London. The German supermarket chain has ambitious expansion plans as it looks to further establish itself in the area.
Source: getsurrey.co.uk
Italian food retail sales up 6.1% in April: Istat
The Italian food retail sector saw a 6.1% year-on-year growth in sales in April, according to data from Istat. However, overall retail trade for the period fell by 26.3% in value and 28.1% in volume.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Kenya puts Tuskys on watch list
The Kenyan government is closely monitoring Tuskys Supermarket, which is slowly sliding into financial trouble after failing to pay suppliers. Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina told The EastAfrican that the retailer, which is operated by Tusker Mattresses Ltd is now on the ministry’s watch list for failing to meet its contractual obligations with suppliers. “The ministry has received the report and has been engaging with both the retailer and the suppliers and monitoring the situation closely”, said Ms Maina. “This matter was brought to our attention in April. It is something which we are monitoring and engaging closely with Tuskys. Nobody wants to see businesses go under. The measures which have been put in place by both parties are being monitored by the ministry and reviewed on a weekly basis,” she added.
Source: theeastafrican.co.ke
Philippines: AllDay opens new supermarkets
AllDay Supermarket, a member of the Villar Group’s retail unit AllValue Holdings, Inc., continues to expand its supermarket chain with the recent opening of two new stores. In a statement, AllValue said AllDay Supermarket Imus was opened last May 20 while the second AllDay Supermarket store opened in Salawag, Dasmariñas last May 30. “AllValue’s offering in Imus was made stronger with the entry of AllDay Supermarket, bolstering an already strong AllHome location along Aguinaldo Highway,” the firm said.
Source: business.mb.com.ph
Online shopping in Singapore soars in Covid-19’s shadow
Online shopping in Singapore has surged since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Research from data and analytics firm GlobalData suggests the effect on the country’s e-commerce market will be long-lasting, estimated to reach US$9.5bln this year. Previously, e-commerce grew at a compound annual growth rate of 15.4% between 2015 and 2019 to reach $6.2bln last year.
Source: insideretail.asia
UK: Shopper confidence at one of the lowest levels on record
Shopper confidence remains at one of the lowest levels on record, according to the latest results from the IGD Shopper Confidence Index. Despite overall confidence staying low there are significant differences in confidence between regions, with shoppers in London feeling most confident. Positivity towards the food and consumer goods industry also continues as trust sits at a 7-year high. The IGD Shopper Confidence Index in May 2020 remains low at -10 which, despite its negative position, is the first time the figure has stayed at the same level as previous months. Expected financial confidence has increased by two points to a score of -23 with 47% of shoppers now expecting to be worse off in the year ahead, down from 50% in April.
Source: igd.com
Vietnam: Online marketplace Tiki wins US$130mln funding
Vietnamese online marketplace Tiki has successfully raised US$130mln in its latest funding round led by Northstar Group. According to Deal Street Asia, the total value of the investment may increase by a further $20mln. Founded in 2003, Northstar Group is a Singapore-based private equity firm, currently investing US$3bln in more than 30 companies across Southeast Asia.
Source: insideretail.asia
France: Casino aims to open 300 neighbourhood supermarkets by 2021
Casino’s chairman and CEO, Jean-Charles Naouri, in an interview in Le Figaro, has said the company wants to also open 300 neighbourhood supermarkets by 2021. Naouri said the aim was ‘to be as close as possible to customers’ and benefit from shoppers’ demand for proximity. He said proximity stores had continued to perform well even as France has exited lockdown, which he said was in contrast with hypermarkets, which ‘remain in clear decline’.
Source: igd.com
Hong Kong: Aeon unveils new concept stores
Aeon Hong Kong has unveiled new-look store concepts in two suburbs - Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsuen Wan. The stores feature several new zones and a new look alongside the retailer’s traditional supermarket offer. Aeon says the store is targeting both office workers and local residents with its product mix. Meanwhile, the Aeon Tsuen Wan store features a store-in-store for casual wear label iC, a beauty-products zone and space dedicated to trendy outdoor products.
Source: insideretail.asia
Crisis has speeded up food e-commerce boom, says CSB-System
The current boom in online food sales brought about by the coronavirus pandemic has provided a preview of the likely future for food retailing, according to a leading food and drink IT specialist. CSB-System says that the growth offers a huge opportunity for manufacturing and trade companies, and that the current crisis has merely accelerated a trend that experts have long seen coming. “A recent study from GlobalData has forecast that the UK online food & grocery retail market will grow by 25.5% this year”, said Timo Schaffrath, the company’s marketing & PR manager. “Nevertheless, even before coronavirus, the figure for 2020 was still an impressive 8.5%. Such statistics back up a pre-crisis study from Oliver Wyman consultants, who forecast a five-fold increase in online grocery sales in Germany.”
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
China: Dada Group celebrates Initial Public Offering on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange
Dada Group (“Dada” or the “Company”), China’s leading local on-demand delivery and retail platform, began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “DADA” following its initial public offering. To commemorate this corporate milestone, the Company held a special listing day event at Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China and the second tallest in the world, drawing attendance from its Board of Directors, retail and brand partners, investors, riders, employees and media correspondents.
Source: globenewswire.com
Spain: Mercadona launches new technologically efficient supermarket in Malaga’s Rincon de la Victoria
Mercadona celebrates the launch of its new technologically efficient supermarket, located in Malaga’s Rincon de la Victoria. This new supermarket is located on Calle Pepa Flores Gonzalez and has received an investment of €5mln. Mercadona’s new ‘efficient model’ optimises shopping for its clients and work tasks for its employees. Some of its features include the ‘ready to eat’ aisle, freshly squeezed orange juice machine, ergonomic trollies and wider aisles.
Source: euroweeklynews.com